let’s discuss your next design

Tag: Design by Mariska

Bathroom Trends to Transform Your Space into a Feature Room. When it comes to the latest bathroom trends there are a few things that immediately come to my mind, nature, serenity and accent colour. Nature is becoming more of a feature with the usage of earthier materials like natural woods, stones and wood-like tiles. Not only is nature featured in the product selection, but also with adding live plants. Vertical gardens are being used as feature walls to add more colour and life to space, with low maintenance.

With the booming hotel industry, it has become clear that some people would like to bring the hotel bathroom experience to their own personal bathrooms by making the space feel more welcoming and relaxing. The master bedroom and bathroom are moving more towards an open plan, with the bathroom forming part of the suite, rather than being hidden away. Freestanding baths, beautiful basins as well spacious showers visible from the main bedroom area becomes the focal point in the area.

Spacious showers are in high demand, as we are seeing more walk-in showers and even double showers, rather than the typical small cubicles. Bathtubs are also being replaced to allow for a spacious shower.

Grey colour tones feature in the majority of contemporary bathroom designs this season. This, however, does not mean that the bathroom will just be grey and dull, it is typically brightened up by adding some accent colours in either mosaics, décor tiles or in the accessories and towels. Geometric and 3D tiles along with the correct lighting application can also provide additional depth to a space that would have otherwise appeared to be empty or flat. Feature floor tiles are making more and more appearances, they add colour and contrast to any small bathroom without overwhelming the space. In larger bathrooms the feature floor could become a main feature giving the illusion of a rug in the bathroom but with a bit more elegance.

With the current trends, it is easy to see that bathrooms are no longer seen as just a functional space but rather a feature room in the house.

Design Tips For The Kitchen. If you are a food lover, like me, and spend a lot of your time in the kitchen, it is essential that your kitchen has an easy flow. You definitely do not want to get stuck on an obstacle course, while preparing your favourite meal.

Before even starting the planning process of your new or improved kitchen, I always recommend to go a bit deeper and inspect your existing kitchen. Take photos of every single cupboard’s content, print them out and start listing what exactly it is that you require space for. It is only then that you realise how many items you have to create space for. This is a critical step that is often forgotten and could leave you with a kitchen that feels small, cluttered and lacking storage.

Some tips to get you started:

1. If you don’t use it, lose it.

Every single item in the kitchen should be used to avoid clutter from accumulating. If you don’t use it, lose it. I try to purchase multifunctional items, like the Phillipe Stark’s, Juicy Salif. This lemon squeezer is functional but is also a piece of art to brighten up your kitchen.

2. Interesting storage containers could also be used as display pieces

Interesting storage containers could also be used as display pieces. I prefer using clear containers, as this will allow you to immediately view what is inside, without having to go through the hassle of opening every single container, or labelling and re-labelling.

3. Space is your friend and drawers are a lifesaver when it comes to space.

Base cabinet drawers are amazing space savers, it allows you to maximize the usage of the entire space. It also avoids the need for getting down on your knees or unpacking a cupboard just to get to the can of beans stored at the back. There is a wide variety of different drawer organisers available on the market. These will assist you to stack plates, organise spices, cutlery and even the biggest nightmare of them all the plastic containers.

4. Lighting is both aesthetic and functional.

It is becoming more of a trend to have sensor lighting installed inside your kitchen cabinets and drawers. To have the cabinet or drawer lights go on when opened, without even flicking a switch, adds that extra touch of luxury. Other than general lighting, task lighting fixed underneath wall cabinets are great to light up the counter space. The lighting could be neatly hidden and when switched on enhance your kitchen experience. It is not only functional, but it also looks great when switched on.

5. Open counter space is essential to your kitchen experience.

The counter space is a crucial part of any kitchen. It is recommended to always have open counter space next to the sink, stove/oven and fridge. These are the locations that will be used most often, and you don’t want to be stuck with a hot baking pan and no nearby space to put it down. The majority of stone counters are hard wearing and able to withstand heat but in time they do start to wear when exposed to too much. I would recommend to always have something handy to place a hot pan or baking tray on even if you have stone countertops (I have a wooden cutting board nearby, and it works great).

6. Don’t waste offcuts.

If you have just installed new stone countertops, ask for the cut off pieces of the sink or other larger areas to be polished. Glue some felt on the bottom of these pieces and they can be used on top of your counter. They are great to place heavy appliances on, like the mixer as this will allow for easy moving, without scratching your counter.

7. You can never have enough power socket in the kitchen

Power sockets are something that is not always a priority for contractors as they usually only include the bare minimum. I would recommend having double or triple power sockets wherever possible. This will allow you to spread out your appliances and have ample available sockets when required. You definitely do not want to trip over extension cables while trying to multitask. There is a wide variety of different sockets on the market and I would recommend choosing sockets to match your needs. I have sockets with USB adapters to keep my phone and tablet charged while cooking, but there are many others that are becoming popular (like smart sockets that allow you to switch off all appliances with a single request to Alexa, Siri or any other digital assistant you may have).

It does not matter whether you are ripping out your entire kitchen or just adding some décor elements, it is important to have fun and leave your own mark on the kitchen, that you can be proud of.

Getting Your Zebra On A Walk On The Wild Side. Just like the chicken and egg scenario, some might argue that Zebra striped pattern is white with black stripes others might argue it is black with white stripes. If one looks closer at the stripes one can’t deny that these stripes make somewhat of a statement. Zebra stripes are used in so many different design fields.

First of all, by referring to zebra stripes print, it does not necessarily refer only to zebra hides. Zebra stripes are often printed or painted patterns on a wide variety of materials. It is also not for everyone, you either love it or hate it, a bit like marmite. Below are 5 tips, how you can get your Zebra on with a touch of class in your interior.

Reupholster A Chair With Zebra Fabric:

Zebra strips print can breathe new life into an old chair and could even convert the chair into a centrepiece. I would recommend a zebra-striped chair for a reading nook, a study or even as a feature chair in a lounge. Zebra stripes print also work very well for bar chairs, however, I would not recommend turning every single seating area into a zebra extravaganza but one or two should do the trick.

Fun With Zebra Prints On Cabinets:

If you feel that your space needs a bit of monochrome extravaganza but not too sure where to start, you could always transform your storage cabinet by adding a zebra pattern to it. The print does not have to be on all the sides of the cabinet and could merely be the front side of the cabinet. The pattern could either be painted on the unit or alternatively it could be a hide or patterned fabric that covers the unit with the use of studs. If fabric part sounds a bit too difficult to DIY, you could always get assistance from an expert in the field.

Wall Up The Zebra:

Zebra wall covering could be an instant pop to a blank wall. One can use the zebra pattern on the wall (painted or wallpaper) or alternatively there are a large variety of pre-cut vinyl stickers available that would be easy enough to install yourself.

Soaking Up The Zebra:

Freestanding bathtubs are becoming more of a trend in a modern bathroom. There are some companies that are able to wrap the bathtub in zebra hide to transform the everyday bath into a feature piece in the bathroom. You, however, do not have to cover the bath just to add the zebra pattern print to your bathroom, this can also be achieved by using patterned tiles on the floor or in a feature wall in the bathroom.

Zebra And The Table:

Zebra print ceramic or porcelain crockery are available in a wide variety. This could add that extra touch to a dinner party. I would recommend not to use the entire set in the same zebra print but rather mix it up with either a variety of different zebra design or by adding black, white or a bright colour. By adding the solid colours to the zebra print it will allow for the zebra printed crockery to stand out more. Alternatively, if you love the pattern but do not feel confident enough to change your existing crockery, you could always add the zebra stripe in the form of a serviette or even a table runner.

Our client required to upgrade their apartment building lobby area as well as the reception desk. They wanted a space that creates a great first impression when entering the building. The biggest challenge that we faced throughout the Barsha Heights renovation project was obtaining approvals for the design developments from the majority of board members.

After a few client consultations, we were able to narrow down the colour scheme, space management as well as the budget development. The client was sure about one thing and that was that the old dirty sofa and outdated reception desk had to go. The majority of the design was left in our hands to transform the space into a beautiful lobby that the board and residents would be proud of.

After determining exactly what each section in the lobby’s function should be as well as the requirements of the concierge and security team, we were well on our way. With a limited budget we decided to utilise the existing colour scheme as the lobby flooring and wall finishes were still in a good condition and this would stretch the budget further.

The new reception desk had to be larger than the existing desk, to accommodate for additional storage as well as all the security and concierge services requirements. To brighten up space we used mainly white components for the new desk. To bring in an element of the existing colour scheme, we added a backlit Onyx feature. This created that “wow” effect with the feature being visible from a distance at night.

For the lobby seating area, we selected Barcelona chairs in white leather. The chrome legs of the chairs blended well with the reception desk kick plate to tie the elements together. The lobby area seemed very large and empty, therefore we split the seating in to, two separate areas. The one side consisted of a three seater chair and two ottomans with a side table, and the other side consisted of two single seater’s chairs with a side table. Above the single seaters and ottomans, we created a lighting feature by using 3 Tom Dixon white and copper pendant light. Each pendant was fixed at a different height, to serve as a feature upon entering the lobby.

The final touches to the lobby were achieved by adding large pot plants and small orchids in pots. These plants brightened up the area and added that extra life to space. The overall look and feel of the lobby are very sleek and contemporary. The overall space and reception desk ticked all the clients’ requirement boxes and is a space that they are all very proud of.

Barsha Heights Apartment Renovation. As an interior designer, there is just something great about starting a project and going through the entire design process with your client to finally end up with a result that the client is thrilled about. When you are the client yourself, it seems a bit more of a challenge to achieve the ultimate perfection. For this project, my husband and I were very proud first-time homeowners and in need of some renovation to create the perfect contemporary space, that we would call our home.

There were a few spaces in the apartment that required a bit more TLC than others. After a hard look at every single space within the apartment, we decided on what would stay and what just had to go. We narrowed our design requirements, which included to completely renovate two of the bathrooms as well as the kitchen. We only occasionally have guests visiting for a few days at a time and therefore decided to rather utilise the second bedroom as a full-time study. The study/guest room required additional storage as well as space where our beloved guests, would be able to sleep over other than a sofa.

With a very tight schedule, we jumped right into the first space to renovate, the kitchen. The layout of the kitchen was not your standard rectangle or square and therefore made it a little bit more difficult when designing with pre-fabricated cabinets to fit within our tight budget.

My favourite feature of the kitchen is the island that we added. Although it is small it creates the perfect spot for someone to keep me company while cooking up a storm. Our colour scheme throughout the house was very clean with pops of colour. We originally wanted to use natural wooden flooring and base cabinets, but due to the high costs and maintenance involved, we went for an alternative. The flooring selected was a porcelain “wood look” tiles and the base cabinet panels was a wooden laminate. Both these wood-like features are very easy to maintain. To try and avoid any awkward spaces that are hard to reach in the base cabinets, we installed deep drawers. The drawers are easy to use and allow for better utilisation of the space. The wall cabinets were all in a gloss white finish to add a bit of contrast to brighten up space. To add our pop of colour we added a fresh bright green and white mosaic splash back. The splashback also served as the gradual link between the bright white wall cabinets and wood like base drawers.

In the guest bathroom, the existing shower was very small with a strange. The basin vanity unit was larger than the shower area, therefore we decided to rather swap the two, to allow for a larger shower with a built-in niche and a smaller basin cabinet with enough storage. The swap was definitely the right call, just have a look at how much nicer the areas work. Having a bit of an awkward shaped vanity and basin is much better than an awkwardly shaped shower.

In the master bathroom, we added a whirlpool bathtub to allow for ultimate relaxation (I love my long baths, my husband not so much but I got my way on this one). Mirror cabinets were added above the basin and WC to maximise the storage space and make the bathroom look so much bigger. The basin vanity design incorporates the laundry basket within the unit (don’t you just hate a laundry basket that is always in the way). The colour scheme in both the bathrooms was kept very neutral, sticking to beiges and greys hues, with orchids providing the pop of colour.

In order for both me and my husband to get our way, the study/ guest bedroom had to serve as a full-time study but also as the occasional guest room. We, therefore, designed a bookshelf/wall bed that will enable us to keep our book collection and add more storage but also would be able to transform into a standard double bed in just a few seconds. As my husband and I are both very passionate travellers, we created a feature wall with a large world map. This way we could pin our previous and upcoming trips to the wall in a bit more fun and unique way (for us life is all about the journey).

The entire house’s walls were touched up and painted for a new and fresh look. As die-hard fans of the TV show “Friends” we wanted to replicate the door in “Monica’s apartment” with the purple door and yellow picture frame. This yellow frame has been a conversation starter for a number of guest visiting. This is such a fun element in the house and something that guests and we just love. It has also become the official backdrop where all our visitors take a photo before saying goodbye.

The final touches for this project were to decorate the entire house by adding all the furniture. We mainly used existing furniture, however, we did purchase a few new items as well. The overall feel of the house is very clean and fresh with pops of colours throughout the apartment. This project transformed our apartment from being a space we lived in, to a place that we are excited to call home.

With this Mosman Park renovation project, our client’s wanted to upgrade their investment property in order for them to sell it at a better value. Their property was rented out for the past few years and with the tenants seems to have been run down a bit. There was a lot of work that had to be completed in the client’s tight deadline and budget. The areas that required most of the attention were the kitchen, garden, wooden floors and deck.

The kitchen was the first room in the house that we worked on. We removed all existing appliances and cabinetry and started with a blank canvas. The clients wanted a very modern look and feel for the kitchen, with as many of the appliances as possible to be integrated within the cabinets. To stay with the modern theme, we proposed a very light and fresh design. The colour scheme consisted of white and green with some natural wooden elements. The end result of the kitchen was a significant improvement, where we maximised the storage space and included integrated appliances to provide the clients with a clean looking design.

The garden was another major project on its own, as most of the lawn was either dying or already dead, it just had to go. Our company arranged for the new lawn to be installed, an entire clean-up of the garden as well as filling the empty spots. After a few weeks of hard work and nurturing, the garden was looking much better, and a worthy garden for entertaining.

With all the tenants moving in and out over the years the walls required a lot of attention including filling of holes, touching up of paint and just an overall makeover of the exterior as well as the interior walls.

The wooden flooring on the ground floor as well as the decking on the first-floor patio, required some work. The wooden flooring provided the house with a lot of character and as such couldn’t just be removed and replaced, instead the damaged boards were fixed and the entire area was sanded down and restored. It was not possible to save the wooden decking, it was completely removed and replaced with a composite material that allowed us to maintain the look we wanted but this time would not fade or even require maintenance for the next 25 years.

After all the major work on the house was completed it only left us with the finishing touches, in order to turn the client’s old rental house into a dream show house. The furniture used was mainly from what the client still had available in storage, with a few new items to add small touches. With this project, we worked very closely with the clients in order to achieve the maximum effect, complete on time and within their budget.

Dubai Marina Residential Lobby Reception Desk, our client required a new reception desk for their apartment building’s lobby. They required the desk to blend in with the existing lobby materials as well as be able to accommodate their current security system and procedures.

As there were already a lot of curved feature in the lobby area, we decided to add a curve to the design of the desk. We tried to match the countertop as close as possible with the existing marble flooring, as well as the 3D wooden panelling with the existing wooden features and finishes in the building.

The client also required a cut out in the countertop, where a computer monitor would be visible so visitors can view their details entered into the system. The previous reception desk was built into the floor, and thus the area around it had to be refinished. In order to avoid re-doing the entire floor, we built a small platform on which the new desk could be placed to cover the footprint of the previous desk. To brighten up the area and put the special finishing touches on the space we added a lighting feature.

The reception desk allows for maximum storage and all the security requirements. The new reception desk added some much-needed detail and design flair, to space by fulfilling and surpassing all the client’s requirements.

Big 5 Exhibition Stand Design, our client required a design for their 24sq.m Big 5 exhibition stand. They wanted their stand to be open with a welcoming feel that will attract potential clients to view their products.

The orange colour scheme used in the design was based on the client’s foot washer packaging. The foot washer, as the feature of the stand, was also the inspiration for the counter. It was designed to replicate the shape of the foot washer, cut in half.

The client wanted to display as much of their products on the stand without making it feel cluttered. We incorporated their foot washer (main products on the stand) with two basin settings, to illustrate what the set up would look like in your home. Mixers and shower settings were incorporated on one of the walls, to allow for maximum product display without taking too much attention away from the foot washer displays.

The overall look and feel of the stand were very inviting, with colourful feature walls and rigged signage allowing the stand name to be visible from a distance. The success of this exhibition stand for Bold was achieved by good communication between the design team and the client, ultimately it fulfilled and surpassed all the client’s requirements.